Portable foldable chair



Feb. 26, 1952 w SMITH PORTABLE FOLDABLE CHAIR 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 FiledMarch 31, 1950 In I/fl for Z0&Z/er (i (5972 z'ffi 29% ozmfpm Feb. 26,1952 w. H. SMITH PORTABLE FOLDABLE CHAIR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March31, 1950 Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLEFQLDABLE CHAIR Walter H. Smith, Eureka, Ill. Application March 31, 1950,Serial No. 153,143

be folded into small compass; is light in weight;

is rugged and strong and can be folded and unfolded quickly andconveniently.

One of the important features of the invention resides in the provisionof a portable, strong,

light weight folding chair which comprises a seat having a back, theseat and back including a suspended fabric which renders the chairexceedingly comfortable.

Another important feature of the invention resides in a portable foldingchair having a seat portion and back portion which are supported by atripodconstruction which gives stability to the chair.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from theaccompanying drawings and following detailed construction.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a side elevational vie of my portable foldingchair.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the chair shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken, on line 3-3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the chair in collapsed or foldedposition. 4

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the chair in collapsed or foldedposition.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig.5.

1 Referring in detail to the drawings, the portable chair comprisesessentially three legs I, 2 and 3, a fabric seat and back 4 and .acombination handle and housing 5, the parts being so related and securedtogether that they may be extended or opened to form a seat and back ormay be folded into small compass of walking stick form. v

The legs 2 and 3 are of substantially the same length and are pivotedtogether intermediate their length by a pivot pin 6 which carries a headI at one end and a collar 8 intermediate the length of the pin, the headand collar bearing upon members 3 and 2 respectively to hold the membersin contiguous relationship adjacent the pivot. When the chair isunfolded the legs 2 and 3 are disposed in the form of an X and aremaintained at a desired angular relationship with respect to each otherby means of a lug 9 secured to the leg 2, said lug being formed with ashoulder I0 (Figs. 1 and 6) which engages with 8 Claims. (01. 155136) 2.an edge of plate II secured to the side of leg 3.

When the legs are in this described position,

shown best in Fig. 2, said legs are prevented, by weight which may beplaced upon the chair, from collapsing.

Coacting with the legs 2 and 3 when the chair is in unfolded position isthe leg I which, together with legs 2 and 3 forms a tripod. The leg I isprovided with an elongated slot I2 intermediate the length of the leg,the assembly being such that said slot is normally positioned adjacentthe pivot of legs 2 and 3. Pivot pint beyond collar 3 terminates in atongue I3 which is pivoted, as at I I, to a locking bar I5, said barbeing provided with a slot I6 in which tongue I3 is positioned. The faceend of bar I5 protrudes through slot I2 in leg I, bar I5 carrying atransverse pin H which, among its functions, prevents unintended removalof bar I5 from slot I2.

A pair of similar guide plates I8 are mounted, in spaced relationshipwith respect to each other, upon leg I adjacent the opposite definingsides of slot I2. Each plate is provided with a flange so formed as tohave a projection I9, a notch 26 and notch 2I spaced from each other andthe flanges of each plate are so disposed with respect to each other asto have corresponding parts transversely opposite each other.

The arrangement is such that pin I I, depending upon the folded orunfolded position of the chair, is positioned adjacent projections I9(Figs. 5 and 6) or is disposed in either pair of notches 20 or 2| (Figs.1 and 3).

In unfolded position bar I5 protrudes transversely through slot I2 andpin II registers with either notches 20 or 2| depending upon the desiredangular relationship of leg I with respect to legs 2 and 3. To renderthe three-way joint thus formed more rigid stops 22 and 23 arepositioned upon leg I which are respectively engaged by the side edgesof legs 2 and 3.

Leg I is intended to comprise the rear support for the chair and isextended above legs 2 and 3, as shown best at 24 in Figs. 1 and 2. Theextension 24 thus functions as the support for the back of the seat. Theleg I may carry a reinforcement 25 to further strengthen'said backsupport. At the upper ends of legs I, 2 and 3, ring posts 26 are carriedand a substantially triangular shaped fabric 21 having post-engagingrings 28 carried at the corners thereof is adapted to be suspended fromthe ends of the legs, the corner rings 28 being removably threaded uponthe posts 26.

The device has heretofore been described essentially in its unfoldedposition. To fold the device,

the fabric seat 21 is first removed from the posts 26; legs 2 and 3 arethen swung about the pivot 6 to bring the post-ends of the legs adjacenteach other, as shown best in Fig. '7, and simultaneously the legs 2 and3 are swung about pivot I4 to bring legs 2 and 3 and le I into parallelplanes. The projecting end of pivot pin 6 is then moved into slot [2positioning bar l exteriorly of said slot. Bar I5 is then swung aboutpivot M in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3,until bar 15 occupies a position slightly inclined with respect to leg Iand between the flanges on the spaced plates l8. Legs 2 and 3 and leg Iare then moved longitudinally in opposite directions with respect toeach other until pin I1 abuts the spaced projections 19 This movementbrings the tapered portion 29 of bar I'5 into the end of slot l2 and,hence, the bar l5 becomes loosely wedged between the flanges of plates18 and the three legs I, 2 and 3 are removably secured together inp1aneparallel relationship.

The upper end of the back support 24 carries a transverse pin 30. Themember 5 comprises a hollow handle portion 3| and a hollow housingportion 32. The housing portion 32 is provided with oppositelypositioned elongated slots 33 in which the opposite ends of pin 30engage. Hence, the member 5 is swingably and slidably movable withrespect to the back support 24.

When the parts have been assembled in folded position as has beenhereinbefore described, member 5 may be moved slidably in embracingrelationship with the back support 24 and the upper ends of legs 2and-3,. as shown best in Fig. '7. The lower edge of the housing 32- isprovided with notches 3A which engage the protruding ends of a pin 35transversely carried by the back support Ed. A swingable spring clip 36is carried by leg 3 and an aperture 3'! is provided in the housing 32adjacent its lower edge. Engagement of a pin 38 carried by the springclip 36 in aperture 31 serves to lock the member 5 upon the upper endsof the folded legs. 1

A plate 39 is hinged at 40 to the inner upper wall of the handle portion3|, said plate extending downwardly adjacent the ends of legs .2 and 3.A space H is thus provided for the reception and storage of the foldedfabric seat 21, the plate 39 when the member 5 is in embracing positionbeing disposed adjacent theback support 24. When the member 5 is movedupwardly away from the ends of the legsplate 39 may be swung outwardly,as shown in broken linesin Fig, '7,

whereby seat fabric 2'! may be removed. In unfolded position, the membermerely hangs upon pin 38, as shown best in F .8- 1 and}.

The legs I, 2 and 3 although shown as being constructed of wood may beconstructed of metal such as aluminum or magnesium and although shownand described as being of solid construction, may, of course, betubular. Such modifications and other obviousadaptations andmodifications are contemplated-in myinvention as being well within theprovince of any one skilled in the art.

I claim as my invention;

l. A folding chair comprising a pair of legs each having upperyandlower'ends, a-pivot pin securing said .legs together intermediate theirlength, alocking bar pivotally connected-to said pivot pin, a third leghaving an upper and lower end provided intermediate its length" with anelongated slot in which said .locking bar is posid tioned, means uponsaid locking bar for engaging said third leg to secure said legstogether in pivotal fashion intermediate their length to form a tripodwhen the legs are disposed angularly to each other about the respectivepivots, stop means upon said third leg for engaging each of said otherlegs, stop means upon one of said pair of legs for engaging the otherleg of said pair, and a flexible fabric seat suspended from the spacedupper ends of said legs.

2. A folding chair comprising a pair of legs each having upper and lowerends, a pivot pin securin said legs together intermediate their length,an end of said pivot pin projecting from said legs, a locking barpivotally connected to the projecting end of said pivot pin, a third leghaving an upper and lower end provided intermediate its length with anelongated slot in which said locking bar is positioned, anchor meansdisposed upon said third leg adjacent said slot, means upon said lockingbar for engagement with said anchoring means to secure said legstogether in pivotal fashion intermediate their length and to form atripod when the legs are disposed angularly to each other about therespective pivots, stop means upon said third leg for engaging each ofsaid other legs, stop means upon one of the legs of said pair of legsfor engaging the other leg of said pair, and a flexible fabric seatremovably suspended from the spaced upper ends of said legs.

3. A folding chair comprising a pair of legs each having upper and lowerends, a pivot pin securing said legs together intermediate their length,a locking bar pivotally connected to said pivot pin, a third legofgreater length than each of said other legs having an upper and lowerend provided intermediate its length with an elongated slot in whichsaid locking bar is positioned, said slot being closer to said lower endthan to said upper end, means upon said locking bar for engaging saidthird leg to secure said legs together in pivotal fashion intermediatetheir length to form a tripod when the legs are disposed angularly toeach other about the respective pivots, stop means upon said third legfor engaging each of said other legs, stop means upon one of said pairof legs for engaging the other leg of said pair, and a flexible fabricsuspended from the spaced upper ends of said legs to form a seat andback for said chair.

4. A folding chair comprising a pair of legs each having upper and lowerends, a pivot pin securing said legs together intermediate their length,a locking bar pivotally connected to said pivot pin,v a third leg havingan upper and lower end provided intermediate its length with anelongated slot in which said locking bar is positioned, means upon saidlocking bar for .engaging said third leg' to secure said legs togetherin pivotal fashion intermediate their length to form a tripod when thelegs are disposed angularly to each other about the respective pivots,stop means upon said third leg for engaging each of said other legs,stop means upon one of said pair of legs for engaging the other leg ofsaid pair, and a substantially triangular flexible fabric seat suspendedat its corners from the spaced upper ends of said legs.

5. A folding chair comprising a pair of legs each having upper and lowerends, a pivot pin securing said legs together intermediate their lengthin plane-parallel relationship, said pin having a portion extendinglaterally from said legs, a locking bar pivotally connected to theextendingportion of said .pivotpin, a third leg having an upper andlower end provided intermediate its length with an elongated slot inwhich said pivot pin extension is positioned, spaced flanged means uponsaid third leg adjacent said slot, means upon said locking bar forengaging said flanged means to secure all of said legs together inplane-parallel fashion, and tubular means carried by said third leg forembracing the upper portions of said legs to hold the same inlongitudinally parallel relationship.

6. A folding chair comprising a pair of legs each having upper and lowerends, a pivot pin securing said legs together intermediate their lengthin plane-parallel relationship, said pin having a portion extendinglaterally from said legs, a locking bar pivotally connected to theextending portion of said pivot pin, a third leg having an upper andlower end provided intermediate its length with an elongated slot inwhich said pivot pin extension is positioned,

' spaced flanged means upon said third leg adjacent said slot, meansupon said locking bar for engaging'said flanged means to secure all ofsaid legs together in plane-parallel fashion, and

tubular handle means carried by said third leg for telescopicallyengaging the upper portions of said legs to hold the same inlongitudinally parallel relationship.

7. A folding chair comprising a pair of legs each having upper and lowerends, a pivot pin securing said legs together intermediate their lengthin plane-parallel relationship, said pin having a portion extendinglaterally from said legs, a locking bar pivotally connected to theextending portion of said pivot pin, a third leg 3 having an upper andlower end provided intermediate its length with an elongated slot inwhich said pivot pin extension is positioned, spaced flanged means uponsaid third leg adjacent said slot, means upon said locking bar forengaging said flanged means to secure all of said legs together inplane-parallel fashion, and tubular handle means carried by said thirdleg for telescopically engaging the upper portions of said legs to holdthe same in longitudinally parallel relationship and means carried byone of said legs for locking said handle means in telescopic positionupon the upper portions of said legs.

8. A folding chair comprising three legs, a pivot pin for pivotallysecuring two legs together in plane-parallel relationship, an extensionon said pivot pin, a link pivotally connected to said extension, meansupon said link for pivotally and slidably engaging said link in anelongated aperture provided in the third leg whereby the third leg ispivotally secured to the other two legs, and has limited longitudinalmovement relative thereto, means carried by certain of said legs forlocking engagement with adjacent legs to lock said legs together in apredetermined angular relationship, and a flexible fabric seat carriedby the ends of said legs.

WALTER H. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

